The City of Kigali will spend Rwf2.5 billion to compensate those to be expropriated from Kimicanga area, Kimihura Sector, Gasabo District.

This was disclosed by Alphonse Nzeyimana, the City Vice Mayor in charge economic affairs, in an exclusive interview with The New Times.

According to the official, the expropriation will affect residents of Kamukina Cell, mainly in four community settlements including Urumuri, Isangano, Inyamibwa and Isano.

He said the city had finalised with the property valuation in Urumuri and that a total of Rwf 109,235,688 will be spent to compensate them.

"The expropriation law stipulates that people whose property has been valuated should be compensated within a period of three months and the management of the city will respect this law because all citizens deserve their rights in all aspects,” Nzeyimana said.

He noted that residents would be expropriated to pave way for the construction of commercial and residential complexes, road extension and a recreation centre. The new development is based on the ongoing implementation of the city master plan.

Nzeyimana noted that the funds for compensation will be provided by the Ministry of Finance, through Rwanda Housing Authority, adding that the amount is already provided for in the 2011-2012 budget.

He added that property valuers are currently working on Isangano where over Rwf1 billion would be spent on compensating the affected residents.

Nzeyimana pointed out that they would know the total cost of Kimicanga expropriation after the valuation of the four settlements, adding that they expect the exercise to end by the end of December.

When The New Times visited area, last week, a resident of Isangano village Gilbert Kabano said: "I think the evaluation process is being conducted in a transparent and genuine manner, but I encourage the government to compensate us basing on the current prices of land”.

The expropriation exercise comes over a year after it had been halted in the city.

In June last year, Kigali City authorities announced that it had suspended the exercise after it emerged that over 1,000 hectares of land acquired by various developers since 2008, was yet to be utilised.

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